Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-10
COL0RAD0'S SARATOGA.
dANtToU SPRINGS, THE FASHION,
ABLE RESORT OF THE ROCKIES.
Pixies Peak In 18S7-The Garden of the
Gods and Some of Its wonders-Helen
Hunt Jackson's Grave-Life at a West
ern Watering Place-New Chautauqua.
MANIroU, Colo, Aug
Especial Correspondence

l
| Especial Correspondence
MANIroU, Colo, Aug. 8.
write this letter in the Saratoga OF the
Rocky mountains. AL around me in solemn
grandeur rise these great wealth bearing
hills, their tops kissing the blue sky and their
rugged sides covered with growth of
scrubby, bushy green. In no direction is
there view Of the plains. On every side
the mount lins hem me in, and the patch of
blue which fits down upon the tops of these
everlasting hills seems to shut out the other
world as though it formed the vaulted cell
ing, and these mountains, rising almost
straight upward for thousands Of feet, the
walls of one Of the most beautiful of natures
palaces. The rustliug of the breeze through
the oaks is mixed with the music of the Fon-
tame Qui Bouile river, which pours over
great rocks down the cavernous gorge of this
prison palace, making rainbows in its falls at
some places and painting the rich scenery in
its placid pools at others. 1t was well named
by the miners of years ago the Boiling Foun-
tain, for its seething current foams as it
tears itself through rock and gorge and its
roar is more like the storm among the trees
than the ripping Of the brook.
Twelve miles OFF to the right and 5000 feet
above ME l can see the rocky head of Pixies
peak. Its crown is covered with snow and
great white cloud rests upon it. Below the
snowy mantle there is a wide expanse of hazy
blue rock which fades off into green as the
timber line OF the mountain is reached 1t
Is the most prominent point Of the Rocky
mountains OF this region, and it was the first
to be seen by the miners, as in canvas wag-
haxy bad fha;-- al
plains of Colorado. The stories Of their pri-
vations will never be told. Some starved and
died upon the plains, some lived for DAYS
upon their own horses, and in some cases they
ate each other. Old citizens of Denver viii!
tell you bow one day a half starved man was
brought into the city. He was living skel-
eton. He had been lost upon the plains, and
his brother had died in his arms. He had
shhsisted for days upon his brothers corpse
and was practically maniac when trappers
found him eating it and carried him into
the town. 49,
You remember the old story of the daring
miner who started for these gold regions with
a newly painted wagon, four horses, and with
the words
Pixies Peak or Bust
painted in great red letters upon its snow
white canvas. His piciax was new, his
clothes were good and his face was rosy,
plump and full. A few months late, he was
seen going back over the same trail, his
wagon now a shackly affair, worn and dirty.
his cheeks emaciated, his clothes ragged, and
upon the canvas sides of his wagon below tue
above, the words,
Busted, by Thunder,
Still no gold was ever found in paying
quantities within forty miles of Pixies peak,
aud the millions upon millions which havo
been taken out Of Colorado come from a
greater distance than this. Few of those
earlier prospectors made great fortunes, and
fewer OF them saved what they made They
were too Bohemian in their work. Not CON
tent with good results, they always pros
pected for better and there are many men
living now who have walked over and cast
aside mines which have made fortunes for
their successors. The big mines arc now
largely run by wealthy syndcates. The
giant capital, with his powerful arms, works
for the many, and nature does not now scat.
ter her gifts so Unfortunately as in the DAYS
of lS49. Ny lord capital brushes her noun
tains to powder, and by his scientific pro.
cesses takes out millions where the solitary
miner with pick and cradle could not get
tens. He has moved the mountains nearer
the east, and with the iron bands of his many
railroads has tied them to the markets of the
world. He has turned the weary journey of
months into one of days, and discomfort and
distance have been annihilated by his inveu-
tons. You now ride in Pullman car to the
base of Pixies peak, and here Under its shadow
is now one of the fashionable watering places
OF the country. M%a
Here at Manitou in this great gorge of the
Rockies are cottages MS tasty as some you
will find on the coast of New Jersey. Hero
are half dozen hotels which will accomlno.
date hundreds, aud here is as fashionable and !
well dressed n cosmopolitan crowd as YOU |
will find anywhere. Pretty girls flirt upon |
these wide porches just as they do on the |
Grand Union at Saratoga. Dudes walk |
with them through AIantou's lovers lane, |
and old and young visit and drink of the Won |
ierful springs which here bubble up thou t
sands of diamond like sparkling colored globes |